Kenneth Branagh has given an update on the progress of Thor, start of shooting being the biggest finally.

"Thor" is progressing. "We're planning that one. We're having a great time at the moment. We're in intense pre-production" says Branagh. "I shoot Thor in January of next year and because the time of release has been moved, it's allowed me to have a moment in the summer where I can shoot the Wallanders(TV series he was promoting when asked about Thor)...strangely, there's a weird, pleasing connection between the Swedish Wallander and the Nordic Thor."
"Wallander" co-star Tom Hiddleston is one of the potential candidates for the titular role - "he, amongst a number of others, has been part of the group we've spoken to and all that's still a work in progress" says Branagh.

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I'm sure its no coincidence that Branagh was asked about Thor, or at least the account published now, when another Marvel property Wolverine just opened the summer season in a big way. Also Marvel released the first official publicity photo of Iron Man 2. Whether coordinated or not Marvel does a good way of having its properties out there in the public eye.

So, Thor? I know nothing of this Tom Hiddleston, anyone seen this Wallanders show? The last contender for the lead I'd heard was Alexander Skarsgard of True Blood.

Let's Discuss the progress on the movie and what it means towards the eventual Avengers movie as well.

Let me start out by saying that I HATED the Ultimates take on Thor. I don't want some "realistic" delusional crazy person, enviornmentalist with weather controlling tech. I want this movie to be Marvel's equivalent to Lord Of The Rings. I want Asgard, Valhalla, Frost Giants, the Midgard Serpent, Loki, Baldar, Odin, the whole nine yards. I want this to be big and epic and stand on its own as great movie. I want this movie to set mainly in Asgard, culminating in the battle which Thor shows his arrogance, resulting in his punishment of becomming Dr. Don Blake. The final scene of the movie should show Dr. Blake giving Tony Stark an exam (he with the bad heart) which wil suege into the Avengers movie. At least that's how I think they should do it.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the entire Ultimates/Ultimates 2 arc, but Millar's story ends by clearly demonstrating that Thor is in fact Thor (complete with a giant army of Asgardian warriors appearing in the finale to help defeat Loki).

Ultimate Thor is a neat story on its own, and of all Millar's caricature-heavy characters in Ultimates, he's probably the most sympathetic and well-drawn character. I agree, though, that it's not the take I'd be interested in seeing filmed, and that isn't what the film's about.

^ As I understand it, this movie is set in Asgard in ancient times, not modern times. I suspect that there will be some tie in with Don Stark and the hammer and the present day Marvel universe. However, I don't think they're going down the Ultimates route. I'm guessing that part of the reason that Branagh has been cast is his ability with older dialects - with so many Shakespearean adaptations under his belt, the 'Thee, Thou' dialogue of this movie will be a piece of cake.

Last rumour I heard was of True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard as Thor with his more famous dad Stellan as Odin, while Josh Hartnett was in the running for Loki. Before you all roll your eyes and groan, apparently his Kenniness was well impressed with Hartnett's Hugo, the Iago character in Tim Blake Nelson (another Marvel connection, incidentally)'s 'O', a high school take on Othello. Branagh himself played an acclaimed Iago opposite Lawrence Fishburne, so I guess he knows what he's talking about. Supposedly the Loki of this movie has shades of Iago.

I have seen one of the 3 Wallander adaptations shown thus far and have recorded but not watched the other 2 - I don't remember this co-star but will keep an eye out for him. Incidentally, isn't it funny how Scandanavians keep popping up in Branagh's career? Hamlet, Wallander, now the God of Thunder himself!

Does anyone else think Tom Hiddleston and Alexander Skarsgard look kinda scrawny to be Thor? Is that really the kind of person Brannaugh envisions for playing Thor?

I'm not one of those "OMG you must cast this wrestler because he looks physically like Thor." I'd like someone who can act, but umm wouldn't it take awhile for someone that scrawny to work-out and get the body-type of Thor with shooting planned to start in about 7 months?

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the entire Ultimates/Ultimates 2 arc, but Millar's story ends by clearly demonstrating that Thor is in fact Thor (complete with a giant army of Asgardian warriors appearing in the finale to help defeat Loki).

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But it was that cocktease in the beginning (among other things) that drove me away from the Ultimates early in its run so I didn't know. I would imagine that it was mandate from the editors handed down to Millar because he doesn't strike me as the type of guy to include something like that in his comic. I'm sure if he had it his way, Thor wouldn't have been the true god of thunder in keeping with the "realism" of the Ultimates.

Which makes me wonder if the Thor Branagh is bringing to the screen is based on the classic Lee/Kirby Thor, how will he fit in the tech heavy (and Ultimates inspired) Iron Man and Hulk movies?

I would imagine that it was mandate from the editors handed down to Millar because he doesn't strike me as the type of guy to include something like that in his comic. I'm sure if he had it his way, Thor wouldn't have been the true god of thunder in keeping with the "realism" of the Ultimates.

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Doubtful; among other things, the whole story of the second volume revolves around Loki and Thor, and given how successful Ultimates was, there's no way Marvel would order Millar to change something so big about his own story. Besides which, Millar's done plenty of fantastical stuff, from Superman to The Authority.

Which makes me wonder if the Thor Branagh is bringing to the screen is based on the classic Lee/Kirby Thor, how will he fit in the tech heavy (and Ultimates inspired) Iron Man and Hulk movies?

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Neither Iron Man nor Hulk have much to do with the Ultimate versions (nothing notable at all in the case of the former, in the latter the only tangible link being the idea that a supersoldier-derivative formula was involved in the Hulk's creation).

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the entire Ultimates/Ultimates 2 arc, but Millar's story ends by clearly demonstrating that Thor is in fact Thor (complete with a giant army of Asgardian warriors appearing in the finale to help defeat Loki).

Click to expand...

But it was that cocktease in the beginning (among other things) that drove me away from the Ultimates early in its run so I didn't know. I would imagine that it was mandate from the editors handed down to Millar because he doesn't strike me as the type of guy to include something like that in his comic. I'm sure if he had it his way, Thor wouldn't have been the true god of thunder in keeping with the "realism" of the Ultimates.

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That's the thing about the Ultimate version of Thor; everyone else thought he was a crazy environmentalist with weather tech. He never doubted it even when Loki was trying to convince everyone otherwise. And to be honest, in a world full of people who can do god-like things, who's really going to believe someone is a god of old? Especially when he's apparently the only one wandering around. It would be like Tony Stark trying to tell people he's really Hephestus.

Personally I really liked the Ultimate Thor. His costume looks a lot better, his personality makes a lot more sense, his views are a vast improvement, and it actually shys away from the campiness that occurs whenever Thor deals with anything Asgardian. It's especially nice because while he is vastly powerful, he's not all Odinpower-ed up to unreasonable limits. He's a blend of the wise tactician and the brute warrior, as opposed to the normal Thor who swings one way or the other in every incarnation.

with so many Shakespearean adaptations under his belt, the 'Thee, Thou' dialogue of this movie will be a piece of cake.

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Very much doubt you'll see that; the comics stopped doing that.

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I'm very much out of the loop with the comics, but the script review I read (albeit some time ago) said that the dialogue was quite archaic and in that vein. Of course, it could well have changed since.

I would imagine that it was mandate from the editors handed down to Millar because he doesn't strike me as the type of guy to include something like that in his comic. I'm sure if he had it his way, Thor wouldn't have been the true god of thunder in keeping with the "realism" of the Ultimates.

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Doubtful; among other things, the whole story of the second volume revolves around Loki and Thor, and given how successful Ultimates was, there's no way Marvel would order Millar to change something so big about his own story. Besides which, Millar's done plenty of fantastical stuff, from Superman to The Authority.

Which makes me wonder if the Thor Branagh is bringing to the screen is based on the classic Lee/Kirby Thor, how will he fit in the tech heavy (and Ultimates inspired) Iron Man and Hulk movies?

Click to expand...

Neither Iron Man nor Hulk have much to do with the Ultimate versions (nothing notable at all in the case of the former, in the latter the only tangible link being the idea that a supersoldier-derivative formula was involved in the Hulk's creation).

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That's also in keeping with Marvel history for quite some time, that a number of characters have some manner of connection to the Super-Soldier Project, and attempts to recreate it.

OT, I've always wanted to see a mini detailing Marvel's version of the Manhattan Project, what with at least three top characters' fathers known to have worked on it, and like as not, other connections waiting to be 'revealed'.

Does anyone else think Tom Hiddleston and Alexander Skarsgard look kinda scrawny to be Thor? Is that really the kind of person Brannaugh envisions for playing Thor?

I'm not one of those "OMG you must cast this wrestler because he looks physically like Thor." I'd like someone who can act, but umm wouldn't it take awhile for someone that scrawny to work-out and get the body-type of Thor with shooting planned to start in about 7 months?

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I would have thought 7 months is time enough. They usually give these guys very experienced trainers, put them on special diets, etc. IIRC, Hugh Jackman would have had much less time to get in shape for the first X-Men movie. I'm pretty sure Christian Bale had even less time to bulk up for Batman Begins, having wasted away to nothing for The Machinist.